Topic: Economic Education

Authoritarianism, Economic Education, Financial Markets, International

The Case of Evergrande: Is There a Housing Bubble in China?

– November 16, 2021

“The Chinese housing bubble is enormous; various economic indicators leave no room for doubt. Evergrande’s problem is not an isolated issue but a systemic problem with the Chinese economy.” ~ Daniel Fernández

Currency, Economic Education, History

A Three-Pronged Blunder, or, What Money Is, and What It Isn’t

– November 13, 2021

“Can we please junk the stupid three-function definition of money? So what if textbook writers keep repeating it? It’s incoherent. It’s based on some earlier economists’ sloppy reading of Jevons’s classic treatment.” ~ George Selgin

Central Banking, Economic Education, Government, International

Negative Interest Rates and the ECB’s Brave New Credit World

– November 9, 2021

“The widely negative real interest rates, which have already been a reality in some segments of the European capital markets, might foreshadow this loss of welfare for the European people.” ~ Gunther Schnabl & Nils Sonnenberg

Economic Education, Free Markets, Government

Government Jobs for All?

– November 8, 2021

“Production requires real work, not government make-work jobs. By diverting millions out of productive private sector jobs, the MMT jobs guarantee seems guaranteed to impoverish America.” ~ Daniel J. Sutter

Economic Education, Economic History, Free Markets

Was Keynes Right on Short Work Weeks?

– November 7, 2021

“When one takes the time to consider the multiple dimensions of what constitutes human well-being just as Crafts did, it is hard not to engage in hyperboles such as ‘We are infinitely better off than our close ancestors.'” ~ Vincent Geloso

Authoritarianism, Economic Education, Free Markets, Government

An Open Letter to a Candidate for Political Office

– November 5, 2021

“We can always use another genuine entrepreneur. You are rightly proud of being one. Please, stick to being an entrepreneur. Only then will you truly help not only your fellow Californians in the 42nd district, but the whole of humanity.” ~ Donald J. Boudreaux

Currency, Economic Education, Government, History

Not Worth a Continental

– November 3, 2021

“In hindsight, it is difficult to fathom how the patriots erred so grievously in issuing paper money during the Revolution. At least a certain amount of them were aware that only a limited amount of paper money could be issued before engendering an inflationary spiral.” ~ Clifford F. Thies

Economic Education, Free Markets, Government

Halloweenomics

– October 31, 2021

“When we extort treats with threats the same month that the federal fiscal year begins, and just before major elections in every even-numbered year, it reminds us of how commonly trick-or-treating describes politics as we are forced to bear it.” ~ Gary M. Galles

Classical Liberalism, Economic Education, Free Markets, Philosophy

Adam Smith and Problems with the New Paternalism

– October 30, 2021

“Dynamic perspectives on welfare exacerbate the error-identification problem. If we ourselves are in the process of discovering our values, how can an external party possibly arrange our choices such that they make us better off as judged by ourselves?” ~ Erik Matson

Economic Education, Inflation, Monetary Policy

What Does ‘Transitory Inflation’ Really Mean?

– October 29, 2021

“Whether the Fed will conduct policy to render the recent episode of inflation transitory in either sense of the term remains to be seen. My view, informed by market expectations, is that the rate of inflation will eventually decline to something in the neighborhood of 2 percent.” ~ William J. Luther

Art and Culture, Economic Education, Free Markets

The Surprising Social Signals of Halloween

– October 29, 2021

“When those goblins and ghouls come knocking at your door on October 31st, cherish that you are part of a community that values sacrifice, graciousness, and cooperation.” ~ Anthony Gill & Michael Thomas

Economic Education, Free Markets, Government

Avoid the Reductio When Arguing Over the Minimum Wage

– October 28, 2021

“While the reductio is an unsound economic argument against the minimum wage, there remain many sound arguments against this officious intervention. Not the least of these is that a minimum wage will reduce employment options for workers.” ~ Donald J. Boudreaux